As the lives and businesses of entertainment’s elite become increasingly complex, gone are the days of one-note fixers. The Hollywood Reporter’s Troubleshooters — who were identified through public documents, media reports and insider intel, as well as a formal nomination process — have risen to the challenge. From fake sonograms in extortion cases to the tragedy on the Rust set to the chaos at Twitter headquarters, this group of Power Lawyers has seen and handled it all.
Profiles by Pamela Chelin, Winston Cho and Deborah Wilker.
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Blair Berk
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject TARLOW & BERK | CRIMINAL
Berk is an elite defense attorney whose recent high-profile clients have included Armie Hammer, Marilyn Manson and Johnny Depp. But she’s also involved in work advocating for victims, especially in harassment and stalking cases for talent like Selma Blair, Alexandra Daddario, Channing Tatum and Leonard DiCaprio. “I’ve seen more stalking cases where the person actually brings a weapon,” Berk notes. “Those are very disturbing and require real attention to not just making sure the person is in custody, but also that we have a plan for when they get out. Mental health treatment is a big part of addressing the problem.” On the defense side, Berk says this past year she’s been proud of handling “situations where a high-achieving good person finds themselves about to be wrongly accused of something, and I’m able to get in at an early enough stage where were can satisfy everyone that it’s an untrue allegation and it doesn’t get out.”
THIS YEAR, I’M THANKFUL FOR … “The rule of law.”
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR CLIENTS THAT NEVER FAILS “Remain silent.”
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Jennifer Bonjean
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject BONJEAN LAW GROUP | CRIMINAL
Bonjean has a “not guilty” tattoo on her right arm, a fitting motto for her work with high-profile clients. This year, she and her team, which operates out of New York and Chicago, got six murder convictions vacated and represented Bill Cosby, whose sexual assault conviction was overturned. She’s representing Cosby in Judy Huth’s civil suit, and appealing a jury’s verdict that found him liable of assaulting her in 1975. Meanwhile, client R. Kelly was found guilty on six counts in his federal child pornography trial. Bonjean says, “A verdict of not guilty on seven of the 13 counts was a good outcome in this extremely challenging case.”
IF I WEREN’T A LAWYER, I’D BE … “A winemaker.”
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR CLIENTS THAT NEVER FAILS “It’s an oldie but a goodie. The advice that never fails in my line of work is: Keep your mouth shut except to say ‘I want my lawyer’ in response to any and all police questioning.”
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Priya Chaudhry
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject
CHAUDHRYLAW | CRIMINALChaudhry says working on multiple high-profile cases simultaneously has showcased the spectrum of her professional abilities. There was the federal probe into Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jen Shah for a telemarketing scam, the DOJ’s first cryptocurrency insider trading prosecution — and, of course, the civil rape case in which she represented filmmaker Paul Haggis (who was ordered by a jury to pay $10 million in damages). As the pandemic seems to wind down, Chaudhry says she’s relieved to see “the courts be fully open for jury trials. It has been devastating for my clients to have to wait, sometimes years, for their day in court.”
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR CLIENTS THAT NEVER FAILS “Assume everyone is wearing a wire or taping your calls. Never text anything you don’t want to see in the New York Post.”
IF I WEREN’T A LAWYER, I’D BE … “Zookeeper General of the United States (a position I created at the age of 3, and nothing has changed).”
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David Chesnoff
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject
CHESNOFF & SCHONFELD | CRIMINALLas Vegas-based Chesnoff has long been the go-to guy for athletes and artists in a jam in Sin City, but the onetime protege of former Vegas mayor and mob attorney Oscar Goodman actually tries cases throughout the U.S. Leonardo DiCaprio, Bruno Mars, Corey Lewandowski, Marshawn Lynch, Alvin Kamara, DaBaby, Cristiano Ronaldo, Britney Spears, Mike Tyson, Martha Stewart and Shaquille O’Neal have turned to him. One major win this year: “Having charges not filed in a multi-kilo cocaine seizure case.”
THIS YEAR, I’M THANKFUL FOR … “My almost 40-year marriage.”
IF I WEREN’T A LAWYER, I’D BE … “A baseball player.”
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Marilyn Chinitz
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject BLANK ROME | FAMILY
Negotiating for Michael Douglas, Wendy Williams, Tom Cruise and hundreds of other high-net-worth individuals over the past 35 years, Chinitz says she’s recently seen a dramatic rise in couples calling it quits later in life. In addition to post-55 splits, there also has been an increase in clients “turning to private judging, mediation and alternate dispute resolution (ADR) as the courts are suffering the effects of shutdowns caused by the pandemic.” Outside the office, Chinitz this year found herself speaking before New York state lawmakers about increasing the accountability of court-appointed guardians.
THIS YEAR, I’M THANKFUL FOR … “Being blessed with a grandchild, spending time with my family and enjoying good health.”
THE CASE I’M WATCHING MOST CLOSELY (THAT ISN’T MY OWN) IS … “Reproductive Freedom cases – the fallout from overturning Roe v. Wade.”
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Philip K. Cohen
PHILIP KENT COHEN APC | CRIMINALCohen is leading the defense of Danny Masterson in his criminal rape trial, which went to the jury Nov. 16. (There was no verdict as of press time.) While that case may get the headlines, another for a non-famous, wealthy client marked a high point for Cohen, who secured dismissal of four sexual assault claims against that client in a preliminary hearing, leading the DA’s office to drop the case involving multiple accusers. “I demonstrated how the victims’ statements weren’t consistent with the conclusions in the charges presented,” he says. “I consider myself to be very surgical in terms of how I conduct cross.”
THE CASE I’M WATCHING MOST CLOSELY (THAT ISN’T MY OWN) IS … “The voting machine defamation case is fascinating. It’s a very interesting analysis and dynamic about where does the First Amendment end and damage to others’ reputation begin.”
THIS YEAR, I’M THANKFUL FOR … “I’m most thankful for my two twin boys. They turned 13 this year. I took them to Israel to be Bar Mitsvah’d at the wall. Very thankful to be there with them and experience that with them. It’s something I trust they will never forget and something I’ll never forget.”
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Robert S. Cohen
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject COHEN CLAIR LANS GREIFER THORPE & ROTTENSTREICH | FAMILY
Cohen doesn’t name-drop, which is one reason why such billionaires as Rupert Murdoch, Melinda Gates and Michael Bloomberg trust him to handle their divorces. Despite wide media coverage of those matters, he still keeps things close to the vest when talking about the highlights of his year. “My representation of a TV and media mogul from June to August this year was swiftly settled after litigation in two states,” says Cohen, who’s also proud of “completing my 20th year as an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Law with my largest class ever, approximately 65 students.” In equitable distribution states like New York, Florida and Connecticut, Cohen says it’s becoming increasingly vital to scrutinize the respective spouse’s contribution to the accumulation of marital assets and the appreciation of their value, noting, “Divorce lawyers more than ever can make a difference in the outcome of the financial distribution when the case is concluded.”
IF I WEREN’T A LAWYER, I’D BE … “A research scientist preventing various forms of cancer at their earliest stages.”
THE CASE I’M WATCHING MOST CLOSELY (THAT ISN’T MY OWN) IS … “I do not have any cases I am watching which have as much significance as one of my own. That case involves the transfer of some $4 billion of marital assets into trusts without my client’s knowledge and in which she loses all of her rights to those assets.”
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Jeffrey Eisen
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject MITCHELL SILBERBERG & KNUPP | TRUSTS AND ESTATES
Celebrity deaths trigger “a unique set of challenges in managing their estates,” says Eisen, who works quietly to carry out specific after-life directives for superstars and wealthy individuals “without anyone outside of the beneficiaries knowing about it.” The firm has ensured the legacies of such icons as Elvis Presley, Farrah Fawcett, Marilyn Monroe, Albert Einstein and Muhammad Ali. Elsewhere, as the midterms shake out, Eisen is keeping an eye on potential legislative reaction: “If Congress does nothing, the estate and gift tax exemption will be cut in half in three years.”
IF I WEREN’T A LAWYER, I’D BE … “The principal owner of the New York Mets.”
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR CLIENTS THAT NEVER FAILS “Play it straight. Don’t let the emotions of the moment sway you from the proper course of action.”
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Drew Findling
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject THE FINDLING LAW FIRM | CRIMINAL
A longtime go-to criminal defense attorney for rappers and athletes, Atlanta-based Findling is now representing Donald Trump as he faces a grand jury investigation in Georgia. Findling, the self-described #billiondollarlawyer, recently had serious charges reduced or dismissed for several clients, including hip-hop stars Cardi B and DaBaby, comic Katt Williams and the Philadelphia 76ers’ Montrezl Harrell. Cases that languished during the pandemic are now “rapidly going to trial,” he says. “If you call yourself a trial lawyer, get ready. It’s go time.”THIS YEAR, I’M THANKFUL FOR … “Former public defender Ketanji Brown Jackson being selected to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.”
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR CLIENTS THAT NEVER FAILS “Impulsive behavior is your enemy. Think, breathe, pause before you react.”
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Jonathan Forster
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject WEINSTOCK MANION | TRUSTS AND ESTATES
Forster’s estate planning business got a boost when the COVID-19 pandemic forced clients to come to grips with their own mortality, and when Joe Biden’s election as president created concerns about potential wealth taxes. Instead, “interestingly, people got extraordinarily wealthy during the past two years as seemingly every asset class was at an all-time high,” he says. “Real estate went through the roof, businesses went up, the stock market went up, and we again became very busy from a tax standpoint.” Now the pace of work is normalizing a bit, and he’s noticed clients becoming more politically engaged and increasingly involved in critical matters including homelessness and women’s issues, which he expects will continue, along with an increase in clients’ philanthropic work.
IF I WEREN’T A LAWYER, I’D BE … “A baseball player. I absolutely love baseball. It’s such a beautiful sport.”
THIS YEAR, I’M THANKFUL FOR … “The pandemic has refocused what’s important and you have to be thankful for your family and your health because nothing else matters at all. So, from my heart, money doesn’t matter, success doesn’t matter, the only thing that matters is the health of your family.”
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Larry Ginsberg
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject HARRIS · GINSBERG | FAMILY
Ginsberg specializes in representing high-net-worth individuals in high-conflict situations, and he’s also “mediation-friendly,” with clients including infamous attorney Tom Girardi’s ex-wife Erika Jayne
and Robin Thicke. Looking ahead, he expects national and international expansion of the technology that’s been replacing in-person court appearances, which he says is saving clients thousands of dollars in travel and wait times, resulting in more efficient handling of legal matters.IF I WEREN’T A LAWYER, I’D BE … “Producing live theater.”
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR CLIENTS THAT NEVER FAILS “Breathe; and understand that the pathologies that existed during the marriage do not get better during the divorce. Usually the opposite is true.”
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Neal Hersh
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject HERSH MANNIS | FAMILY
Not only have divorces increased because of the pandemic, according to Hersh, but there’s been an uptick in anger and contentiousness. “I think there’s a lot more litigation,” he says. “There is a very high level of vitriol, and it’s incumbent on the lawyers to cool the flames a little bit if we can. It’s part of our job.” Hersh, whose A-list clients over the years have included Pamela Anderson, Halle Berry and Scooter Braun’s ex-wife, Yael Cohen, is certainly no stranger to complicated splits and emphasizes keeping things in perspective. “Some things are worth fighting about. Some things aren’t,” he says. “If you’re arguing about children, that’s a righteous kind of fight. If you’re arguing about pots and pans, that’s absurd.”
THIS YEAR, I’M THANKFUL FOR … “Health, family, good friends.”
IF I WEREN’T A LAWYER, I’D BE … “A TV or motion picture agent.”
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Alan Jackson
Image Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images WERKSMAN JACKSON & QUINN | CRIMINAL
The veteran attorney based in Los Angeles is the rare litigator who has a track record of winning cases as both a prosecutor and a criminal defense lawyer. After convincing Massachusetts prosecutors to drop a sexual assault case against Kevin Spacey in 2019, Jackson joined another high-profile case as one of Harvey Weinstein’s defense attorneys for his ongoing trial in L.A. He also has represented Ansel Elgort and, years ago as an L.A. County deputy district attorney, won the conviction of music producer Phil Spector in the closely watched murder case
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Daniel Jaffe
Image Credit: Courtesy of Bradford Rogne Photography JAFFE FAMILY LAW GROUP | FAMILY
With more than six decades of legal practice, Jaffe advises household names in Hollywood and wealthy individuals on divorces, spousal agreements and other complex business and financial issues. Moving into 2023, Jaffe says he anticipates a challenging year for divorce cases, following the trend of people not selling their houses because real estate prices dropped while interest rates were on the rise. That, he notes, changes the way cases are being settled by adding a delay to funds that otherwise would have quickly become available. One piece of advice for amicable splits: “If you can write a check and buy peace, there’s nothing better that you can do with your money.”
THE CASE I’M WATCHING MOST CLOSELY (THAT ISN’T MY OWN) IS … “The Kanye West divorce case. Particularly, I’m wondering if the antisemitic rants and other things [impact] the decision on custody and visitation with his children.
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR CLIENTS THAT NEVER FAILS “I tell the very wealthy clients this piece of advice: ‘If you can write a check and buy peace, there’s nothing better that you can do with your money.'”
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Anne Kiley
ELKINS KALT | FAMILY
Over nearly 30 years in family law, Kiley has won the trust and business of A-listers including Brad Pitt and Dr. Dre by mostly staying mum about her clients’ personal lives. “It’s my job to help people through the emotion and to focus on the business of dissolution so they move forward with their lives,” Kiley says on her firm’s bio page. “Divorce is an event that resonates throughout a person’s life.”
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Samantha Klein
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject WITHERSWORLDWIDE | FAMILY
Amid a backlog of family law cases in California, Klein says that hiring private judges is more than worth the expense because it allows clients to avoid long wait times for court dates and paparazzi scoping out the courthouse. “By going private, you speed up the resolution of your case and the judges you work with have a lot of experience,” says Klein, who was named the head of Withers’ first U.S.- based family law team this year. Over the years, she has worked with the likes of Anna Faris, Patricia Arquette and Vanessa Bryant.
IF I WEREN’T A LAWYER, I’D BE … “A political consultant or a fashion designer.”
THE CASE I’M WATCHING MOST CLOSELY (THAT ISN’T MY OWN) IS … “Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen because they did it the right way. They are a high-profile couple and knew the media would scrutinize their every move (even more than they already did). So they settled their case before it even started.”
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Joe Mannis
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject HERSH MANNIS | FAMILY
Mannis, who represents Angelina Jolie in her legal battle with Brad Pitt, is also working on a noteworthy case of first impression (presenting an issue new to the court) involving a famous songwriter and his ex-wife. Mannis says it will define what happens with reversion rights in community property states — unless, of course, the case is settled. “The judgment [from 1981] says the husband and wife equally own all the copyrights,” says Mannis, but it didn’t address publishing rights that were sold off in the ’60s that have reverted back. “There is no case law that deals with whether the author is the community (husband and wife) or just the husband who physically wrote the song.”
THIS YEAR, I’M THANKFUL FOR … “The return of in-person court.”
IF I WEREN’T A LAWYER, I’D BE … “A Broadway actor or a rock and roll person. I’d like to be on the stage live and to feel the audience reacting to what I’m doing in real time.”
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Michele Mulrooney
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER | TRUSTS AND ESTATES
Usually, Mulrooney works behind the scenes. But this year, she was shoved into the spotlight as a witness in the contentious trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, whom she advised during their split. Back at the office, a highlight for Mulrooney has been building Willkie’s L.A. office and leading the firm’s West Coast Private Clients Group. She expects clients to continue prioritizing taking advantage of “the gift tax exemption before the anticipated law change on Jan. 1, 2026.”
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR CLIENTS THAT NEVER FAILS “Think about what kind of legacy you want to leave behind.”
IF I WEREN’T A LAWYER, I’D BE … “Spending more time traveling.”
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Judy Poller
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject PRYOR CASHMAN | FAMILY
Poller says she urges her clients, who have included Scarlett Johansson and Drew Barrymore, to stay in the present and not think too far into the future. “It’s a journey — get through where you are now,” says Poller, the New York- based co-chair of Pryor Cashman’s Family Law Group. She observes that there’s been more of a focus on resolving cases outside court through alternative dispute resolution, private judges and arbitration. She notes, “The courts in New York are so backlogged that it is now a given that if you are waiting for a court resolution, you will be waiting a very long time.”
THIS YEAR, I’M THANKFUL FOR … “That we have moved past the pandemic and can work face-to- face with colleagues and hug lots of family members.”
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR CLIENTS THAT NEVER FAILS “Don’t engage. It will get you nowhere fast! And don’t think long term. It’s a journey, get through where you are now.”
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Kristina Royce
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject BLANK ROME | FAMILY
Recently brought in to wrap up the long-stalled divorce of Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger, which finally settled (non-contentiously) in 2021, Royce aims to avoid court, pro- tracted litigation and exorbitant fees whenever possible. She is known to have represented Channing Tatum and Jeff Garlin and is now dividing the IP from a popular film franchise amid one actor’s divorce — which she says is a case that could have enormous ramifications given “the limited case and statutory law in California for this matter.”
THE CASE I’M WATCHING MOST CLOSELY (THAT ISN’T MY OWN) IS … “The Tom Brady and Gisele [Bündchen] divorce. It’s been handled very purposefully — privately resolved and then filed — which is exactly what I like to do for my clients.”
IF I WEREN’T A LAWYER, I’D BE … “A business manager.”
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Mitch Schuster
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject MEISTER SEELIG & FEIN | CRIMINAL
“If we’re doing good work, you’ve never heard about the situation,” says Schuster of his business, which includes fixing problems for some of the biggest names in Hollywood, music and sports. In all, about half his time is devoted to crisis management, though he says he’s on call 24/7. Schuster says, “Often it’s a self-inflicted wound, but sometimes it’s an unfair accusation and they’re forced to deal with it.” He’s seen everything from social media catfishing to doctored texts and faked sonograms: “There’s been five or six situations where I’ve had clients extorted, and I successfully convinced the person to go away with no money paid.” Schuster has been compared to some on-screen fixers. He doesn’t care for the characterization and makes it clear he’s not out there breaking legs. “I do have a unique job, and a lot of what I do is not necessarily taught in law school,” he says. “Some of it is common sense, some of it is street smarts, some of it is making sure I’m available at all times to my clients, and some of it is just having a great team around me.”
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR CLIENTS THAT NEVER FAILS “Call me first. Lots of times people react because they’re nervous and make a payment, or text or email or DM someone, thinking they’re helping themselves. Just call me. I sleep with my phone under my pillow.”
THIS YEAR, I’M THANKFUL FOR … “My family. I have an amazing wife, three amazing kids and a group of friends I consider family.”
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Melina Spadone
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject PILLSBURY | CRISIS LITIGATION
In times of crisis, uberwealthy clients look to Spadone for bet-the-company advice on legal strategy. Her time this year has been mostly consumed with leading Rust Movie Productions through the murky PR and legal waters after the fatal shooting on the set of the Alec Baldwin-led Western in October 2021. She’s helped get the production back on track for filming in January by settling a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, “sparing years of emotionally painful litigation for all involved,” she says.
IF I WEREN’T A LAWYER, I’D BE … “I chaired the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions (think American Idol for opera) and would have loved to be an opera singer, if I had the talent, or the U.S. ambassador to Italy.”
THE CASE I’M WATCHING MOST CLOSELY (THAT ISN’T MY OWN) IS … “I’m not a litigator, so there are no particular cases I’m following, but I am watching the fallout from Kanye West’s antisemitic tropes and hate speech. It highlights the concept of heightened responsibility for someone like Ye, with influence over communities, youth, and entrepreneurs of the future.”
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Lance Spiegel
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject
YOUNG SPIEGEL & LEE | FAMILY“It’s been a very, very busy year,” says Spiegel, putting it mildly. “Being involved in a recent case where someone got called to the carpet for abusing the domestic violence statute was very satisfying in light of my concerns about how that has become a trendy thing.” Another concerning trend, he says, is the onslaught on private judges. “In part, this is the aftermath of my case, where people are going out of their way to try to extricate themselves from private judging stipulations because they don’t like the way the case is progressing,” Spiegel says. “Private judging has a place and benefits the public system by removing a lot of cases and freeing judicial resources.” (He doesn’t discuss clients, but you can’t google Spiegel without getting a hundred results about Brad Pitt.)
THIS YEAR, I’M THANKFUL FOR … “No masks being required in courtrooms.”
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR CLIENTS THAT NEVER FAILS “Hire a lawyer that will tell you what you need to know, not what you want to hear.”
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Alex Spiro
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART & SULLIVAN | CORPORATE LITIGATION
Spiro’s year, perhaps the biggest of the New York-based attorney’s career, included shepherding Jay-Z to a victory in a lawsuit over perfume royalties and guiding Elon Musk through his newfound business chaos as owner of a global social media platform. “Twitter is basically capturing things in real time before the other side of the room even knows about it,” says Spiro. “It has staying power, but it comes with complications.” He’s represented Musk since vindicating him in a defamation case from a diver who in 2018 rescued 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped in a Thai cave, and whom Musk dubbed “pedo guy” in a since-deleted tweet. Spiro, whose other clients have included Meek Mill and 21 Savage, also is advocating for legislation that would limit the use of rap lyrics against defendants in trials.
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR CLIENTS THAT NEVER FAILS “Always tell me the truth, and always be true to yourself.”
THIS YEAR, I’M THANKFUL FOR … “All the lawyers that do pro bono social justice and civil rights work I wish I had more time to give to.”
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Robert Strauss
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject WEINSTOCK MANION | TRUSTS AND ESTATES
After the White House and Congress went blue in 2020, Strauss implemented more than 100 gift transactions for clients from September of that year to the end of 2021 in anticipation that Congress was going to change the tax law, which never happened. “I was the busiest estate planning attorney in the state,” he says, adding that no clients were bothered that the status quo remained. “None of them was upset that they did what they did. This year, I am delighted to not be doing that and to have had a normal, regular year.” In 2023, however, Strauss will be busy helping clients think through what to do about the 2026 change to the tax law, which will lower the amount clients can give away as gifts without paying taxes.
IF I WEREN’T A LAWYER, I’D BE … “A professor of literature. I started a book group with some Yale professionals about 12 years ago, and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.”
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR CLIENTS THAT NEVER FAILS “Clients should take their time making hard decisions in order to be able to take into account all the factors that are relevant to them to the extent that factors are relevant.”
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Adam Streisand
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject
SHEPPARD MULLIN | TRUSTS AND ESTATESRenowned for his work with the estates of classic icons — most recently Chadwick Boseman, Tom Petty and Leonard Cohen — Streisand is also a go-to for pro sports franchises, repping Jeanie Buss in her fight for control of the Lakers and Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer at trial against former Clippers owner Donald Sterling. “When there is a family succession fight over a national sports franchise, I am on speed dial,” says Streisand, adding that he’s now “in the trenches with the Chargers and the Orioles.
THE CASE I’M WATCHING MOST CLOSELY (THAT ISN’T MY OWN) IS … “What’s going to happen with the Washington Commanders, because we need to root out abuse of women, just as I was determined to take the Clippers from a racist.”
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR CLIENTS THAT NEVER FAILS “My grandfather said to me, ‘Adam, anyone can say he’s Muhammad Ali, but someday he has to step in the ring and prove it.'”
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Joe Tacopina
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject TACOPINA SEIGEL & DEOREO | CRIMINAL
Former prosecutor and veteran defense attorney Tacopina got YG’s robbery case dismissed on the eve of trial and is now representing A$AP Rocky in a criminal matter in L.A. Meanwhile, in D.C. he represented Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder during questioning by the House Oversight Committee and in other litigation related to the NFL team’s allegedly toxic workplace culture, and recently repped Kimberly Guilfoyle in connection with the Jan. 6 congressional hearings. A familiar face to even casual TV viewers because of many appearances as a legal expert, Tacopina sees remote work continuing to rise among attorneys, “but not at my firm. We like the energy and synergy that comes with in-person collaboration.”
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR CLIENTS THAT NEVER FAILS “Don’t make permanent decisions based on temporary emotions.”
THE CASE I’M WATCHING MOST CLOSELY (THAT ISN’T MY OWN) IS … “The various Trump litigations and investigations because it is historical, sad but historical, that a former president is under multiple criminal investigations.”
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Gabrielle Vidal
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject LOEB & LOEB | TRUSTS AND ESTATES
Vidal resolves some of the most sensitive family-centered cases for high-profile clients, including representing the children of Buzz Aldrin in a contested guardianship regarding the famed astronaut, and Carol Burnett in her efforts seeking guardianship of her teenage grandson. “There are so many ways to be a family, and cross-generational support for minors is increasingly necessary,” says Vidal, who adds that cases involving parental substance abuse and mental illness are on the rise. Vidal uses deep research of family psychodynamics for each situation to ensure that “children thrive in a nurturing environment.”
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR CLIENTS THAT NEVER FAILS “Shut out the noise and hold on to your perspective.”
THIS YEAR, I’M THANKFUL FOR … “All my sisterhoods — professional and personal.”
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Laura Wasser
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject WASSER COOPERMAN & MANDLES | FAMILY
Wasser is working on possibly the most talked-about divorce of the year, representing Kim Kardashian in her split from Kanye “Ye” West. Though client Olivia Wilde’s decoupling from longtime partner Jason Sudeikis is making its fair share of headlines, too. She says she’s also been busy creating prenuptial and cohabitation agreements, and is seeing an increase in taking disagreements over vaccinating children to court. “When one parent wants to vaccinate and the other doesn’t, parents are having judges make the decision.” Meanwhile, Wasser’s DIY divorce company It’s Over Easy was acquired by divorce.com. She’s now its chief of divorce evolution, which she describes as “really trying to be a changemaker in the way we approach divorce.”
IF I WEREN’T A LAWYER, I’D BE … “A pro surfer.”
THIS YEAR, I’M THANKFUL FOR … “My family; the one into which I was born and the one created over time.”
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Tony Weibell
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject WILSON SONSINI | CORPORATE LITIGATION
Weibell is Silicon Valley’s go-to litigator on matters involving consumer protection, privacy and internet law, advising the likes of Google, Netflix, Roblox, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. He predicts continued scrutiny of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a federal law shielding internet platforms from liability for content posted by third parties. Weibell says, “Courts are growing more and more skeptical that tech companies are doing enough to protect their users from the unintended consequences of using the internet.”
IF I WEREN’T A LAWYER, I’D BE … “An engineer. I often miss my pre-lawyer days as an engineer. Of course, if I don’t need to pay any bills in this hypothetical, I’d be a songwriter.”
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR CLIENTS THAT NEVER FAILS “The buck needs to stop with a specific person, not a department or group of people. If you have a consumer-facing service or product, you should appoint a single individual to be the primary custodian of consumer protection to know everything about how that service/product works, every word from the company about that product/service that a user might see, and every bit of data collected from users and where that data goes. Nearly every class action lawsuit we defend is a consequence of the left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing, or decisions made by a group of people where no single individual had a complete understanding of how the product/service works. Designating a single person for consumer protection who understands that someday they will personally be called on to testify under oath about the company’s product/service will work wonders to reduce the number of lawsuit-generating snafus at the company.”
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Sarah J. Wentz
Image Credit: Courtesy of Bradford Rogne Photography FOX ROTHSCHILD | TRUSTS AND ESTATES
Fiercely protective of iconic artists and the intellectual property they create, Wentz recently extricated a member of a superstar rock band from a multimillion-dollar con per- petrated by the people around him. “The frustration I felt after finding out that multiple professionals in a musician’s life tried to deceive him made me feel like I was fighting for a member of my own family,” she says. Wentz also created tax and estate plans for three separate catalog sales valued at more than $100 million and helped clients launch dozens of foundations — including singer John Driskell Hopkins of the Zac Brown Band, who was diagnosed with ALS this year and will raise funds for research through his “Hop for a Cure” foundation.
THIS YEAR, I’M THANKFUL FOR … “The fact that my family and friends are supportive of my career. I work way too much and I’ve been accused of giving too many hours away. I have a hard time saying no and that often puts me on a plane flying across the country multiple times a week. I don’t think I’m built to slow down.”
THE CASE I’M WATCHING MOST CLOSELY (THAT ISN’T MY OWN) IS … “Britney Spears. That people closest to her may have allowed ongoing financial abuse is unconscionable. We have a duty to our clients and it is our job to protect them from exploitation. I am very curious to see what comes out in the depositions and how much might be recovered to allow her to retire and live in peace with the money that she worked so hard for.”
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Mark Werksman
Image Credit: Al Seib/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images WERKSMAN JACKSON & QUINN | CRIMINAL
Werksman was tapped to lead Harvey Weinstein’s defense when the former movie mogul was indicted in L.A. on nearly a dozen sex crimes charges. Over the course of two years of contentious litigation, the ex-state and federal prosecutor has staunchly advocated for Weinstein. “It’s almost medieval — the conditions,” Werksman said at an Oct. 11 hearing about his client’s holding cell. “I’m concerned about his health and his ability to survive this ordeal.”
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Scott Weston
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject FOX ROTHSCHILD | FAMILY
Weston continues to see people “forum-shopping for the best state in which to file for divorce,” including high-net-worth individuals intentionally establishing residency in California to obtain higher spousal and child support orders. Litigating some of the world’s most scrutinized splits, Weston aims to keep his business under the radar. “My clients face relentless media scrutiny in every aspect of their lives, so I am always most proud when I can resolve their sensitive and personal family matters discreetly,” he says, noting one case in particular. “I was approached to handle a high-profile custody matter in which one party sought an astronomical amount for support. The parties involved are followed intensely by traditional and social media outlets, but this matter was handled without a hint of public attention.”
IF I WEREN’T A LAWYER, I’D BE … “A sportscaster. I’ve always been obsessed with the NFL.”
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR CLIENTS THAT NEVER FAILS “For clients who are navigating issues pertaining to custody of children, I remind them that relationships are built over a lifetime. Focus on repair, not revenge, and be in it for the long haul as a parent. Don’t fall into the trap of overreacting, or pointing fingers.”
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Kathy Wunderli
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER | TRUSTS AND ESTATES
Wunderli, who advises entertainers and other wealthy individuals on estate planning, taxes, prenuptial agreements and more, says a highlight of her year was “helping a client settle litigation so we could move forward with important tax planning for their family company.” The attorney, who joined the board of the California Women’s Law Center this year, says she’s seeing a trend toward creative philanthropy: “Families are becoming more interested in customizing a plan for charitable giving that aligns with their personal values.”
THIS YEAR, I’M THANKFUL FOR … “The women who have come before me — for opening doors and changing the systems that are exclusionary.”
IF I WEREN’T A LAWYER, I’D BE … “The Manager of an MLB team.”
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Laura Zwicker
Image Credit: Courtesy of Subject GREENBERG GLUSKER | TRUSTS AND ESTATES
Zwicker deals with the kind of wealth that almost makes her job feel abstract. “They have more money than several generations of their family could spend in a lifetime, and they want to preserve it,” she says. They’re also no longer willing to wait until after they die to donate substantial sums. “It’s moving beyond standard philanthropy,” Zwicker says. “‘How can I do good? What is a better way for me to actually make change with what I’ve managed to amass?’ They want to see the impact and have control.” An increasing trend of clients being “citizens of the world” with homes and other assets across the globe is also creating an interesting set of challenges. “Taxes still have borders,” she says, adding that she works with clients to help them meet their goals while minimizing tax consequences. “It’s really intellectually stimulating. It’s an opportunity to work with really smart tax lawyers across the world on a three dimensional chess puzzle.”
IF I WEREN’T A LAWYER, I’D BE … “A pastry chef.”
THE CASE I’M WATCHING MOST CLOSELY (THAT ISN’T MY OWN) IS … “United States v. Bittner, a fascinating (for cross-border tax attorneys anyway) case being decided by the Supreme Court this term on the penalties for ‘non-willful’ failure to file foreign bank account reporting forms.”
